Ugo Humbert on Facing Rune: “His Game is Disruptive, on Both Sides”

After a solid opening-round win against Kei Nishikori, Ugo Humbert now faces one of his toughest opponents on tour “Holger Rune” for a spot in the Indian Wells Masters 1000 Round of 16 (not before 10 PM this Sunday).

The challenge is clear: Humbert has never beaten Rune in three previous encounters. And he expects another difficult battle.

“Holger has a disruptive game, on both sides. When I receive his shots, they feel lifeless—even though it looks like he’s hitting with power. That makes them hard to attack because you can’t really use his pace to your advantage. On top of that, he returns well and takes the ball early.”

Even outside official matches, the struggle continues. “I lost to him at the UTS exhibition. And even when we train together—which we’ve done often—I feel the same thing,” Humbert admitted.